Hostility towards Downer grows in Cyprus
HELENA SMITH
February 22, 2010
Before he took up his post as special United Nations envoy to Cyprus, Alexander Downer enthusiastically declared that he would ''fix up'' the ''untidy'' problem of reuniting Greeks and Turks on the island.
Almost 18 months later, the former Australian foreign affairs minister has discovered - like so many before him - that it might not be so easy.
He faces calls for his resignation amid accusations of favouritism and complaints he does not spend enough time on the island.
''Barely a day goes by without some difference of view being aired … but as for the issue of being here all the time, I was employed on a part-time basis and I'm not paid full-time.''
Hostility towards the 57-year-old peaked this month after a diplomatic faux pas.
The gaffe, for which Mr Downer has been squarely blamed, came when the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, flew in on a highly publicised visit. As the third UN chief to tour the Mediterranean island - nearly 36 years after it was invaded by Turkey in response to a Greek-led coup - Mr Ban had hoped his presence would help re-energise the peace process.
Instead, the South Korean sparked a furore after unexpectedly agreeing, in a last-minute switch of locale, to meet the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in his official office rather than his home.
Mr Downer played down the change as having ''no political significance''.
''We have a problem and it's called Downer,'' said Rikos Erotokritou, vice-president of the small but hardline European Party. ''It is our belief that he should step down. He misled the Secretary-General on purpose because he is biased. He gives the impression that his only concern is money and that he doesn't know his work. It is incredible that he still hasn't set up permanent residence in Cyprus. How can the negotiations be fruitful if he is here for a few days and then flies off?''
Marios Garoyian, the leader of the Democratic Party, put it another way: ''There is a Downer issue. It's not the first time he operates beyond his mandate [or] in a way which puts the Republic of Cyprus in a difficult position.''
Inaugurating the negotiations only weeks after his departure from the hurly burly of politics back home, Mr Downer called it a ''historic day'' for Cyprus.
But with little headway made, analysts are asking whether the Australian can weather the storm.
''Downer's image here was never good but after the Ban visit it has really suffered,'' said Hubert Faustmann, a seasoned Cyprus watcher who teaches political science at Nicosia University. ''What happened in the north was not only a huge blow for Greek Cypriots, it was highly offensive. He has lost a lot of points by being seen as the mastermind behind Ban's visit to the 'presidential' palace …
''Greek Cypriots consider him ignorant and arrogant and there's a perception that he only wants a solution for his own glory.''
http://www.smh.com.au/world/hostility-t ... -oo08.html
